European Union

The European Medicines Agency is due to reach a decision on approving the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine today. Once the agency has given the green light, the necessary approval by the EU Commission is considered certain and an EU-wide vaccination campaign could start before the end of the year. Commentators ask what Europe has learned on the long road to vaccine approval.

The US government has imposed sanctions against Turkey. It has banned cooperation with Turkey's defence industry with immediate effect in response to Ankara's purchase of Russian air defence systems. At its last summit the EU refrained from imposing tough sanctions on Turkey over its policy in the Mediterranean. What will happen now?

The abuse scandals and the recent constitutional court ruling on abortion have also sparked a discussion in Poland about the ties between the Catholic Church and politics. The rapid approach of Christmas prompts commentators to reflect on the place of the Church in society and politics today.

In a TV interview, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf has described his country's coronavirus strategy as a failure. Sweden's independent coronavirus commission had previously issued a harsh judgment with its first report, saying that Sweden had not sufficiently protected the elderly and that the areas of responsibility had not been clarified. Commentators for the most part agree.

All of Europe is struggling with high infection rates, and everywhere the rules have been tightened in recent weeks. Many people won't be able to celebrate Christmas in the accustomed way. The commentaries offer words of encouragement.

2020 has been a year with plenty of dark clouds. Pandemic, economic hardship, layoffs and, of course, climate crisis. Yet, here at the end of 2020, it’s clear that, despite the serious circumstances, the clouds have a silver lining.

AMENDMENTS 1 - 231 - Draft report Human rights protection and the EU external migration policy
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Tineke Strik

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP